Here's another chapter for you! Check out my new story, A Wolf's Cry, and tell me what you think.

*Disclaimer: It's my mind, Masashi Kishimoto's characters.*

Teuchi was thrilled that Sakura was back.

"But it's only for the Chuunin exams then I'm going back to Suna. I'm still not finished with my mission."

"Then the ramen's on the house for you and your friend tonight. Think of it as a welcome home present."

Sakura smiled at the man as he prepared their meal. She turned to Kankurou who seemed to be in a better mood already. "Everyone's missed you."

She bumped his shoulder as she twirled her stool back and forth. "I've missed them too."

He looked bummed for a few seconds and she bumped his shoulder again, "But I had you so it wasn't that bad. When you left for that mission though…"

"Yeah sorry about that. I should have asked Gaara to assign it someone else."

Sakura shrugged her shoulders, "If there was anyone else he would have asked them before you."

He decided to switch the subject. "So Kaminari huh? I haven't seen her in a while. Too bad she's married now, I might have looked her up when I got here."

Sakura smiled at him, "I forgot that you knew her. It's been awhile since I've seen her. I think it was at the twins' birthday party last year. Terrible two's now. I can't blame Naruto for not wanting to go visit her."

He laughed as Sakura daydreamed. Then a though occurred to him as he looked at the already filling ramen stand. "Sakura where exactly am I staying?"

She accepted her bowl of Ramen from the owner and Kankurou did the same, "Arigato."

Sakura broke her chopsticks in half before answering him. "The hotels are all packed for the exams and the ambassadors suites are all filled with foreign dignitaries so you get to stay at my house."

Kankurou looked down at his food and back to her, "Then why aren't you cook-"

Sakura slapped her hand over his mouth. "Naruto comes in here every day. He and Teuchi are good friends. You promised."

He pulled her hand away from his mouth as he frowned at her, "I know I did. I won't break it but I'm just saying anything you make is better."

She looked up at him quizzically, a piece of kamaboko dangling from her chopsticks, "Really?"

He sighed, "Have I ever lied to you Sakura?"

She started naming off instance where he had, in fact, lied to her. He wanted to butt in and tell her that they weren't lies, just half truths but interrupting her would only make her list grow so he sat with his shoulder slumped, eating his ramen.

"Here, hold these."

Sakura handed Kankurou the grocery bags as she stood in front of her apartment door. He watched as she held a palm to the door, breaking the seal. He quirked an eyebrow. He shouldn't have been surprised. A chakra seal was better than any lock. He followed her in as she switched on the lights. He was surprised once again. Her apartment was sophisticated and totally different from the pink frilly monstrosity that he had been expecting. He liked the dark soothing greens and deep earthy browns and the calm midnight blues. He walked around to the huge bay windows that opened up to a balcony overlooking Konoha. If he could see all that through the curtains then she needed new ones. He pushed them back and reached for the handle to open the sliding glass door.

"Kankurou don't!"

But it was too late. As he touched the handle it felt like Kakashi's Chidori ran up his arm. He stumbled back and looked at his singed hand. Sakura was at his side in an instant. She pulled him up off the floor and into the kitchen where he hoisted himself up on a counter. "You need new curtains."

She ignored his statement, "Let me see your hand."

He smirked at the damage done to his hand, "You even sealed them from the inside."

"I told you not to touch it."

She healed his hand quickly and went to the window/door to undo the seal. He looked around the open kitchen as she went into what he expected was the bedroom to undo probably another seal, Kankurou proofing her apartment. The sudden chakra shock made his whole body feel tingly. He smirked at the unusual feeling until he saw the garbage can. It held at least nine bouquets of flowers. They were all withered and dried. He recalled Sakura's first day in Suna. He remembered seeing her furrow her brows as she mentioned something about flowers. He guessed she just never had time to throw them out. He slid off the counter and crossed into the living room looking out at the bright city.

"I'm going take a shower. Make yourself at home."

He opened his mouth-

"And no that isn't an invitation and no I will not wash your back and you will not wash mine."

He grinned at his reflection in the glass. She knew him all too well.

Sakura was glad that she thought to bring her clothes with her into the bathroom. Running around in her birthday suit with Kankurou a room away wasn't her idea of playing it safe. She sighed blissfully as she slipped into her bed. Because it was just that, her bed. Within moments the softness was luring her to sleep. She was almost pulled completely under until she felt two strong arms wrap around her and pull her closer. She growled, "Kankurou!"

He didn't move. Sakura pried his hand away from her and turned to smack him but she stopped. He was out cold. His arms were still stretched out toward her and his makeup was off. Once he was out he was out and it would take nothing short of a Kyuubi attack to wake him up. But she didn't want to disturb him. He looked peaceful and handsome. She mentally kicked herself for thinking that as she turned on her side and found a comfortable position knowing that if he tried anything funny in her sleep she could just beat that handsome face until it turned black and blue.

Kankurou cracked open one eye after Sakura turned away. He closed his eyes again and relaxed now that he knew she wouldn't kill him. But if she ever found out he was faking he'd be the next name on the memorial stone in Suna. He was going to sleep on the couch but he kept getting the feeling that he was being watched. And that feeling only grew stronger when he was in Sakura's bedroom. After he took his face paint off in the kitchen he climbed into Sakura's bed letting his senses span out around him to try and find the peeper. It was either a ninja with no chakra control what so ever or a normal civilian from the constant fluctuation of the miniscule amount of chakra. He could also sense the territorial-esc feeling the peeping tom was radiating. So he stayed where he was, not liking the feeling but not being able to track down and beat up some loser pervert because he was an ambassador to Suna. Now he knew how Sakura felt, not being able to follow natural instinct.

But soon his thoughts were cloudy as Sakura's bed lulled him into sleep. He only woke up when he felt Sakura climb in. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her warm body, protecting her from this unseen threat. He almost laughed when she growled his name. He wanted to open his eyes and ask her to keep going with the bedroom noises but he was still on a mission. He was surprised she hadn't kicked him out of bed yet. He peaked under his lashes to see why she was so quiet. She was looking down at him with soft eyes then she turned away. For some reason that look she gave him made him want to hold her again so he turned on his side and faced the wall, the bed making short work of both their weary bodies.

If it wasn't for the brown hair she would have thought Naruto was spending yet another night at her house. But as it was this wasn't her blonde teammate that had no sense of personal space, this was Kankurou and his body was tucked warmly into her side. She fought back to urge to smack him. This was her mistake. She should have kicked him out of bed last night. But she hadn't and she woke up with a teddy bear, a handsomely beautiful teddy bear. A teddy bear that she desperately wanted to get away from. If he woke up finding her laying there watching him, he would never let her live it down. Stealthily she pulled herself from his strong arm and firm chest. He didn't stir as her feet touched the cool floor. She waited until she was in the kitchen to let out her sigh as she set to work making coffee and checking to see if cereal actually went bad.

"Kankurou wake up! We've got to meet the hokage in half an hour!"

The puppet master startled awake, his head shot up from the soft, warm pillow to look around the room. His thoughts collected as he recognized his surroundings. He was in Sakura's bedroom, in her bed. He smirked as he buried his face in the heavenly bed. He was expecting to be waking up with a rather bruised brain. Her hospitality was much more astounding than his. He pulled himself to the edge of the bed and squinted at the bright sunlight glaring in through the too thin curtains.

"Kankurou did you hear me?"

He turned his head, eye still half closed to peer at her leaning in the door way. She was eating something colorful and sweet smelling. "You need new curtains."

"Leave my curtains alone, get dressed, and come eat."

He grumbled as she walked back to the kitchen, he was still sleep heavy and his voice felt thick. He had to get a bed like this. He contemplated laying back down but the sun burned the inside of his lids. He wouldn't get back to sleep. He grumbled some more and stepped out of bed and crossed the spacious room and into the bathroom for a quick shower. He was just exiting the still steamy bathroom when Sakura came in.

"Kankurou, get up no- oh."

Hers eye skipped from the bed to his still glistening chest. He smirked at the blush on her cheeks as she apologized. "Sorry I thought you fell back asleep."

He shrugged as he brushed past her into the living room and to his bag, "I thought about it."

She sat on the couch flipping through the paper she had somehow acquired as he dug out clean clothes and his face paint. He watched as Sakura lifted a slender white tube that contained the purple smear stick. She brought it up to her nose and sniffed, the news temporarily forgotten.

"It smells like grass, kind of lemony."

He pulled it from her fingers before she got purple under her nose. "It's because it's made from botanicals. Good for the skin and good for looking scary."

Sakura fought back a giggle. He was concerned about the quality of his skin. It didn't surprise her because he did have nice skin. Warm skin that was soft and smooth and was all over her skin last night. She immediately reeled her thoughts back in. Surprised at her own awareness of his soft skin still damp and only a foot away from her. She needed some safe ground and fast.

"Where do you get it from?"

He picked up his stuff and walked back to her bedroom to finish getting dressed, smiling over his shoulder, "I make it."

She cocked an eyebrow as he left her room door open leaving her alone with her thoughts of Kankurou elbow deep in plant goop. She laughed as she reminded herself to ask him how exactly green turned into purple.

"Sakura!"

The pink haired medic ninja rushed ahead of him to hug the Hokage's assistant.

"I've missed you so much!"

Sakura was beaming over Shizune's shoulder. "I've miss you too and apparently I've missed a lot of things."

Shizune held out her hand to show her the simple diamond on a gleaming sliver band. "It's beautiful!"

The girls both beamed at each other completely ignoring him. He was fine with that. Rings, dresses, and wedding cake didn't really make up much of his conversation skills. But he was happy to see her smile, for now Suna was far away and so were her ten patients.

"Shizune! Ton-Ton just ate another file!"

Shizune immediately glared at the closed door. "She force fed him one earlier this morning."

Sakura shook her head and turned to Kankurou, "We had better get in there."

He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug as she put her handle to the door.

"Shishou pigs aren't supposed to eat paper."

The hokage put down the plump pink mammal and he took his chance to scurry out to Shizune who picked him up as she shut the door.

"He was hungry."

"For unsigned mission reports?"

The blonde's honey eyes lit up with a welcome smile which quickly turned into a frown. She looked over Sakura with a deft eye and it sent a glimmer of trepidation though Kankurou. Did she see something he didn't notice?

"You haven't even gotten a tan."

Sakura laughed and it put Kankurou at ease, "I'm in a hospital. The last I heard, florescent lights aren't the best at tanning skin."

Tsunade smiled at Sakura now, "So are you going to hold off giving me your mission report?'

Sakura shook her head as she handed her a tightly sealed scroll.

"And Kankurou I suppose you have one as well, as was my agreement."

Sakura sent him a dark glare and he gave her an apologetic smile as he handed the sannin his report. A job was a job and he did his jobs well.

He was about to open his mouth when Shizune popped her head in. "Hokage-sama the dignitaries from Rice would like to have an audience with you."

The Hokage slouched in her chair, "Again?"

Shizune nodded, "they're waiting."

The hokage let out a rush of air and massaged her temples. "Sakura as much as I missed you I'm afraid that I have to kick you out of here. Trust me it's for your own good."

Sakura beamed at her master, proud that she hadn't threatened anyone visiting her city, yet. "Of course Shishou."

The Hokage stood and walked them to the door. Before Kankurou left she caught his attention. "Kankurou I'd like to talk to you privately before you leave Konoha."

He nodded, grateful that Sakura was already out the door. But as he stepped out of the entering aristocrats' way he wasn't feeling so grateful anymore. A tall, well muscled man smiled down at Sakura as they chatted friendly. If anyone else were to notice their interaction they would pass it off as friends talking. But Kankurou wasn't just anyone else. He had been by Sakura's side everyday for a month. He knew her tells and her give-aways just as she knew his. And right now he was seeing a new one. Her slender fingers dug into the hem of her shirt in a tight grip and although she wore a smile on her face it didn't meet her eyes. They were a far away, dull muted green. His jaw clenched as the other ninja's name rang clear in his mind, Chouji. He knew that the tall armor plated ninja hadn't meant to hurt her and didn't know that he was doing it know. Sakura broke it off first but if you truly cared for someone you would now when they were upset. And Kankurou narrowed his eyes at the ninja he barely remembered. He walked quietly to her side a grin plastered on his face as he slide an arm around her shoulders. The taller ninja seemed to recognize him as their conversation lulled to a stop.

"Sorry to interrupt but," He smiled down at Sakura squeezing her shoulder, "you promised to show me around."

She nodded and then turned to the ninja that she was just talking to, "I guess I'm being a bad guide."

She laughed a little and Kankurou found that he didn't like it at all. It wasn't like the laughter that spilled out of her when he said something funny. No, this laugh wasn't tinkling bells, this was cold and flat like an empty wind.

"I'll see you around Chouji."

"Yeah, I should get going too, I should be in there to make sure Tsunade doesn't take back the deal she made yesterday. See you later Sakura."

Kankurou lead her to the stairs at the end of the hall. When they reached the secluded stairwell she shrugged his hand off her shoulder and walked quietly down the three flights until she was outside. Kankurou followed her quietly, stealing side long glances as she lead him up a massive amount of stairs.

Sakura lead them up and up and up. She was thankful that Kankurou was quiet. She just needed some time to pull herself together. When Chouji walked up and smiled at her it was okay. She smiled back and then he hugged her and something inside her tugged. His heart had mended but hers was still scarred. Then he started talking about Anzu. He said he was thinking of marrying her. That was what hurt her the most. Everyone was finding happiness all around her. But she was the only one to ever push it away. Sharp needles tore through her heart. It was only because of her ninja training that she was able to stay smiling and talking calmly. She listened to him talk about her and praise her and every word wrapped around her heart as cold as ice. Then she felt his arm around her shoulders and she felt safe. But he couldn't do anything for the damage already done.

Kankurou didn't know that they were at their destination until Sakura sat down at the edge of the cliff and brought her chin to rest on her knees. He sat next to her and looked out over the city. He realized where they were.

"It's the top of the Hokage monument. I found Kakashi up here once, sleeping in the third's ear. I come up here to think."

He didn't say anything just looked out over the bustling city.

She wrapped her arms around her legs. "I should be happy for him shouldn't I?"

"Nobody would blame you if you weren't."

"I know."

He frowned as he watched her from the corner of his eye. He knew she would say something like that.

"It still hurts to see him. But I did this to myself. I deserve-"

She was shocked by the large warm hand that gently enclosed her mouth.

"Don't say that you deserve this because you don't."

She nodded slowly before he removed his hand. She let go of her knees and spread her legs out in front of her. She stared at her toes. "Thank you."

He felt him shrug as he looked out at the city.

"You've never been up here before?"

He sent her a lopsided grin, "Last time I was here long enough I was considered a terrorist."

She returned his grin as she wrinkled her nose, "I forgot about that."

He chuckled as they both turned to watch over the city again. Time passed quietly and that was perfectly fine with them. They laid out on the soft grass. They didn't need to be anywhere, go anywhere, or do anything. The sun was starting to warm Kankurou's black clothed skin when he felt the threat. Quicker than she could react he pinned Sakura's shoulders to the ground, his body eclipsing hers under him, protecting her from the flying pieces of earth were his head had just laid. He pulled Sakura behind him as he stood waiting for the dust to clear.

"So this is where you were my Eternal Rival?"

The voice sounded familiar but the owner of it evaded his memory. He looked back to see Sakura holding a hand to her forehead cursing silently as she stepped around Kankurou.

"Lee what are you doing?"

Kankurou blinked in surprise as the green clad ninja stepped from out of the dust.

"And with my Blossom! I challenge you to a duel! For Sakura's hand!"

He looked to Sakura for some sort of clarification. Her fist was clenching and unclenching. Not a good sign.

"Do not hold back my Eternal Rival. Let us fight for Sakura's affection!"

"Whoa, whoa, eternal rival?"

Rock Lee, in all his spandex and orange leg warmer glory gave Kankurou a thumbs up and a thousand watt smile.

"Gaara passed on the title to you, his youthful brother, as my Eternal Rival! Now let us begin!"

He started to run towards Kankurou who held up his hand his brain flashing through excuses until he stumbled onto one golden nugget.

"I can't fight you. I'm an ambassador to Suna. I would disrespect my country."

Sakura quirked an eyebrow but she didn't say anything. Both watched as Rock Lee pondered over the offered bit of information.

"I understand. Our battle for Sakura's hand shall wait, until then we shall both leave Sakura, Konoha's Beautiful Blossom, un-courted."

Kankurou fought back a laugh as he heard Sakura's simple confused statement, "Courted?"

Rock Lee struck his infamous good guy pose, "Now I must tell Gai-sensei of my Eternal Rival's Youthful Loyalty!"

Kankurou saw a whirl of orange and green rush past him. He blinked at the spot the spandex wearing ninja had just vacated trying to wrap his head around things. He'd have to tell Gaara he didn't like having strange shinobi pawned off on him as an eternal rival. Finally getting his thoughts in order he turned to a stunned kunoichi. He couldn't tell if she was embarrassed or angry. He felt a confused smile find his own face as he jerked a thumb in the direction that Rock Lee had just ran off in.

"And that's why I don't wear a onesie anymore."

Sakura stared at him for a moment before a smile bloomed on her face. The sound of her laughter carried around the top of the deserted monument, causing the silence to shatter with the sound of tinkling bells. That was the laugh that Sakura deserved to laugh.